Sugar tablet or cube boxing machine.



J. H. LIEN'AU @I vv. STI-ZENKEN. SUGAR TABLET 0R CUB BOXINGI MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. 1914.

Patented Dec. 19,1916

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J. H.. LIE'NAU & W. STEENKEN. SUGAR TABLET 0B CUBE BOXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AHL 16. 1.914.

" srArs PATENT oEEilcE.

JACOB H. LIENAU AND WILLIAM sTEENxEN, E NEW YORIQN. Y.; sAIn' LIENAU ASSIGNOR OF HIS ONE-HALF TO THE NATIONAL SUGAR JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SUGAR TABLET on CUBE BOXING MACHINE.

Laoasoe.

To all whom# may concern:

Be it known that we, JAoo H.` LIENAU and lVILLIAM' STEENKEN, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of the city of New York,` borough of Manhattan, in the county' and State of New York,

and the city of New York, borough of Queens, in .the countyof Queens and State, of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sugar Tablet or Cube -Boxing Machine, of which thejfollowing isa full, clear,

l and exact description. i

This invention relates to boxingmachines of that type especially'ddesignedto facilitate the'boxing of tablet sugar orother articles that are arranged evenly in rows and. layers and finally boxed in this order.

Thegeneralobjects of the present invention are to improve and simplify the conand positivein action. l

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a. boxing or packing machine hav- 'ing a novelly constructed and arranged hopper that receives promiscuously the tablets to be packed. B v means of longitudinal grooves in the' bottom of the hopper; and by swinging thev hopper in a vertical plane about the discharge end as an axis and through a considerable angle extending above and below the horizontal, the tablets are violentlv agitated .and aline themselves automatically in the grooves 'so as to feed therefrom in a plurality' of rows, the grooves being deeper than the height of the tablets so that when the grooves or gutters are filled, the promiscuously `disposed tablets inthe hopper willnot interfere with the rows feeding out as the hopper is elevated. l

An additional object is the .combination with afeed hopper `of the kind described, of a chute having grooves or gutters valining with those of the hopper and discharging into a stacking or pile-forming box in which the tablets are delivered in superimposed layers forming a pile, which pile is removed without disturbance and box.

Still a further objectof the invention is Specication of Letters Patent.

placed in a packing REFINING CO. OF NEW .Patented nee. is, raie.'

Application led April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,271.

the employment of a. holder within the stackingl box for facilitating the removal of 4the pile -of'laid tablets, which. holder is mounted on a follower or false bottom that is lowered step by step as the layers of tablets Y are delivered to the stacking box, and when the holder is filled, the'same is removed laterally' from the box with all the tablets maintained in their prearranged order.

As a further object the invention pro vvides a removable plate at lthe top of the Stacking .b'ox,'so that the rows of tablets fed from the chute will pass thereover and form themselves into a layer which drops into the holder or onto the previous layer when the said plate'is removed, such plate being employed to provide a smooth surface on which,

the' tablets can travel in discharging from the chute without danger of being blocked,

as vwouldbe the case if they` traveled on the sub-layer of tablets in the holder.

A further object is the provision of a gate at the bottom of the chute which is closed to hold tablets in the latter after a layer has been discharged to the' stacking. box, whereby the arresting of the tablets in the chute will enablethe follower with the layers of tablets thereon to be lowered one step to make way for the next layer to be supplied.

A further object is to provide means oper` able simultaneously with the gate or slightly thereafter to release the layer of tablets in the box from between the tabletsarrested in the chute bythe gate and the opposite side of the box, this releasing occurri fore the follower is lowered.

lVith such objects -in view, and others which will appear as the description prong just beceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will beset forth with particlr larity in vthe following description and claims appended hereto.

` In the accompanying drawings, which lillustrate one embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure l is a side view of the machine; Fig` 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the stack-y ingor pile-forming box, the section being vtaken on the line 2 2, Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine without any tablets being shown` therein; Fig. 4 is a tran? view of a holder with a pile of tablets filling verse section of the stacking box taken -on the line 4;l, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective the same; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the hopper taken on the line 6 6 of Fing. 3, with tablets shown therein; and Fig. 7 is an upper sectional view on the line 7 -7 Fig. 3

" a4 layer has been delivered to the pile-forming box; G a tension releasing device for unclamping the layer of tablets preparatory to their ,being vlowered in the pileforming ybox to make way for the next layer; H the removable layer-holding plate in the pile-forming box, and-I the operating inechani'snrfor the hopper.

The hopper A is a box open at its top so that thetablets can be delivered thereto by the spout B," or in any other manner, and at the discharge end `1 ofthe hopper is 'an opening 2, best shown in Fig. 7, out of which the tablets after having been arranged in rows low out as individual streams. The discharge end'of` the hopper is hingedly connected at 3 to the upper end of the chute C, or is in any other manner operatively relatedto the chute. so as to swing up vandx down in a vertical plane andthus cause the tablets to flow backand 'forth from end .to end of the hopper, and 1n so doing aline themselves in longitudinal gutters, runs or grooves 4 extending the full length of the hopper. This swinging moltion of the hopper is produced by the mech# anism I, which includes a cam 6 carried by a shaft 7' driven inany suitable manner, as,

1 for instance, by a pulley 8 and 'belt 9, the

cam being so shaped and having its axis of rotation so `.positioned that the hopper will swinO through a suitable an le above an h h below the horizontal, as indicated by the A full and ddtted lines, Fig. -1. When the hopper moves to the dotted-line position, thetablets low fromthe open to the closed end of the hopper with .considerable agitation due to the shape of the cam, which permits the' hopper to lower with almost a dropping suddenness. By this agitation the tablets aline themselves in the gutters or runs 4 so as to readily flow out of the hopper when the same is gradually raised from the dotted to the full-line position. The gutters 4 are formed by providing" longitudinal partition I strips 5 which are rigidly mounted on the bottom of the hopper and are, somewhat higher than the tablets, as clearly shown in Fig.. 6, so that those promiscuously disposed tablets in the hopper will not interfere with `the outflowof the tablets in the runs 01 gutters.`

The chute C is suitably supported at an i angle of forty-tive degrees more or less, and at itsv lower `or discharge end itgradually changes its inclination and'liesin a horizontal plane. This chute is divided into runs,

gutters or grooves by strips 10 which aline with the strips 5 of the hopper, and consequently the tablets will flow down the chute in the order in'which they are received from the hopper., 'A guard 11 extends across the Y' chute Aat thje" upper end, so that tablets are prevented from j umpingout, due to the sud-` den motion the tablets take' in passing out of the hopper and entering the chute. The particular form of chute is covered in a divisional application iled' by us Aug. 9, 1916, Ser. No. 44,592.

, At the 'lower or discharge end of the Achute C 'is positioned a stacking 0r pile-forming boxD which is adapted to contain a holder' Dthat is designed to receive 'the pile or stack` of tablets, as shown in Fig. 5. This holder consists of two sections cl and ci ywhich lit together and form a metallic box open at both ends andl the top.r This holder is'placed in the pileforming box D through the open side 12, and is positioned on a fol lower or false bottom 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The bottom members Z2 and d? of the sections al and "overlap so as to in-- tablets into the box a horizontal plateH is slid into the latter at a point immediatelyy under the extensions 10a'of the gutter-posif' f tioning strips 10, such plate H being inserted 'through an .opening 15, Fig. 2, in the,

front ofthe pile-forming box.

The plate H will rest on the bottom of the holder D atthe beginning of the operation, and after a layer has been delivered the plate H is removed and is not re-'inserted until after thesaid layer is lowered far enough to permit the next layer tol be delivered; but before the next layer is delivered 4the plateH is replaced in the pileforming box'a-nd rests'on the first layer in the holder D. This holder D is moved downwardly step by step by a" follower mechanism which includes. the horizontal plate or follower 13 vertically movable in the pile-forming box D, 'and on the under side` of the follower is a bar 17 having sets of ratchet teeth 18 and 19 with which cooperate pawls 18a and19a, respectively, which pawls are mounted on a horizontally movable slide -20 suitably supported and having a handle 21 whereby the operator can move. the slide either back or forth each time the follower 16 is adapted to be lowvered onestep,it being understood that each step is equal to the height of a tablet. lAfter the holder D" is filled and the follower 13 is in its lowermost position, the operator uses the plate `H, or any other suitable device, as a meansl for ejecting the lled holder D', said plate H being inserted through an opening 22 in the box D, Figs.

1 and 2, and in so doing the sect-ion' d of theI holder D is moved to the right,I Fig. 4, to thereby.`compress.the tabletslaterally to-.

gether. The. righta section d remains staL tionary during this lateral compacting of the tablets, and thereafter continued pushing of the plate H inthe opening 22 will remove the holder D far enough to enable the operator to remove the filled holder fromthe ,open side of the box D.

During each step of the follower. downwardly so as to remove a deposited layer of tablets out of the path of the next layer it is necessary to arrest the tablets in the chute so as to prevent them fromsliding down by their own weight, and vfor this purpose the gateor stopping device F is employed. yThis comprises a horizontal bar 23 which extends across the lower end of the chute and is adapted to be lowered into engagement with the tablets. This plate is connected by rods 24'with a cam 25 which rides ongafixedbar 26 disposedover the gate bar 23,l and on the rods 24 are springs 27, which, when ,the cam 25 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, will hold the gate bar 23 in engagement with the lowermost sugar tablets T in the discharge end of the chute. By turning the handle 28-of the cam half way around fromthe position shown in Fig. .2, the gate 23 is raised out of engagement with the tablets, and `consequently the streams of tablets will move into the pile-forming box. 'The foremost tablets of the `/arious streams strike a movable abutment 29. Fig. 2, which abutment is carried by rods 30 movable in a fixed guide 31, and these rods are connected with a cam 32 which has a handle 33. 4When the plate H, 2, is removed 4from the pile-forming box, the operator tu rnsthe handle 33 in ananti-clockwise direction to thereby remove the abutment 29 from the tablets, so that the tablets in the layer are loosened from each other sufficient to drop on the sub-layer and move down with tliepile as the follower is lowered. lVitliout the abutment-29 the tablets on the plate H would be clamped between the front wall of the box D and the tablets held arrested by the gate 23, since it will be understood that the tablets fed into vbe connected by a link the pile-forming box are subjected to them fmethod of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to wliichthe linvention appertains, and-while we have described the apparatus whichwe now con- Sider-to be'the best embpdinient thereof, we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, wev

claim as new and desire Patent: I j

L A machine of the character described, comprising a stationary chute, for guiding in regular order articles to be packed, a pile-forming mechanism at the lower end of said chute, the said articles adapted to llow into the said pile-formingmechanism by the descending weight of all the articles Vin the chute, to form a layer of a predetermined number in said pile-forming mechanism, the said articles in the chute and said to secure by Letters layer of articles in the pile-forming mech-k anism adapted to remain in continuous adjacent relation before removal of said layer, means at the lower, end of said chute adapted to engage the lowermost articles in said chute to arrest the remaining arti'- cles therein during said continuously adjacent relation, and during removal of said layer in the pile-forming mechanism froi the path of the next layer.

2. A machine of the character described,

comprising a stationary chute adapted to guide articlesto be packed in a, plurality of separa-te streams, the said articles being arranged evenly 1n transverse rows, a pilelforming mechanism at the lower end of said chute, the said articles adapted to flow into the said pile-forming mechanism by the descending weight of all the articles inthe chute, to forma layer of a predetermined number in said pile-forming mechanism, the

said articlesin the chute and the said layer of articles in the pile-forming mechanism adapted to remain in continuous adjacent relation before removal of said layer, meai at the lower end of said chute adapted to engage the lowermost articles in said chute during said continuously adjacent relation and during removal of said iayerin the piley formingmechanism out of the path of the next layer.

.3. A machine ofthe character described, comprising a pile-forming box, a chute arrangedy to supply articles to be packed `in layers to the said box from'one side thereof. an abutmentI at the side of the box opposite from the point of entrance of the articles,

` adapted to engage the foremost row of ar- "ticles inthe box to limit the movement of the said articles and to maintainthe samev l 4. AA machine of the character described,

comprising a pile-forming box,v a chute ar- 'rangedto supply articles to b e packed to the said box from one side thereof, meansl for arresting articles in the chute `after'a predetermined number have beensupplied to the said box from yone side thereof, an abutment at the side of the box opposite from the point lof entrance of the said articles, adaptedto engage the foremost row of `articles in the box to limit the movement ,of the said 4articles and to maintain the same in' relatively tight engagement 1with .each

other, and means, for moving the said abutinent out of engagement with sald foremost roWof articles 1n thebox to loosen the engagement of the said articles with each other after the arresting of thearticles in the said chute', to permit removal `of the same outn of the path of the next succeeding predetermined number of tablets.

I adapted to engage the foremost row of tab-4 v lets inthe box t'o limit themovement of the 5.' A machine for boxing tablets'and the like, comprising a pile-forming box, a chute arranged to supply tablets to the box from one side thereof, a gate for arresting tablets inthe chute after a predetermined number have been supplied to the box, a movable -abutment at the side of the box opposite from the point. of entrance ``f the, tablets,

tablets,and to maintain the same' in tight engagement with each other, means for moying theabutment out of engagement with the foremost row of tablets to loosen the 'enga-gement of-said tabletswith each other afteu thearresting of the tablets in thechute, and a follower in the box adapted to move downwardly for removing the tabletsV from thevpath of the next s upply of tablets from the'chute.

6. A machine for boxing tablets and` the like, comprising a pile-forming'box, a chutearranged to supply tablets to the box from one side thereof, a gate for arresting tablets in the chute after a predetermined number have been suppliedto the box, a movable abutment at the side of "the, box opposite from the point of entrance of the tablets,

next supply of tablets'from the chute, and 4a plate removably mounted in the box to form a supportingsurface on which the tablets slide in entering the box from the chute. 7. A machine of the character described,

com rising a ile-formin box a chute..`

p D p 7 adapted Ato discharge articlesfto be packedl laterally into said box, bars disposed'in the j 4 cchute `and extendingA across the -top of the box to form channels through`- which the v tablets flow to the box, and ,adapted to maintain thetabletsinregular order in said box, said box adapted to-beiqiilled by the descending weight of all the articles in the chute and lto determine the number of ar ticles ,received therein, a deviceat the dis charge end, of the chute for arresting the foremost row f E articles in the chute after av supply has been delivered to thebox, and

an element movable step by step 'inthe box for receiving layers of tablets delivered thereto by the chute, the said element adaptfe'd Vto lower the said articles successively from between the said-bars Aof the chute, and maintain the same in the order received between the said bars.

8. A machine for boxing tablets and thelike, including af pile-forming box', a chute discharginglaterallyy into thebox, bars disposed in the chutev and extending across the top of" the\box\to fforrn. channels' through which the tablets flow tothe box, a device K at the discharge `end of the chute for arresting the tablets in'thelatter'after a supply has been delivered to the box, an elef.- ment moving step by step inthe box fo'r re ceiving successive layers of tablets delivered thereto by the `chute, and a plate removably mounted in the box at a point under the said bars to form a supporting surface on which the tablets slide in passing from the chute tov the box, and the said plate being removable to `permit the tablets to be supported by the said element. -1

9. A machine. ofthe character described,

, comprising a pile-forming box open at\one side, a vertically movable follower therein, aholder resting on the follower engaging 'the bottom-and ends of the pil forming in said box, one of saidends corresponding to Athe open side of said box, said holder adapted to be removed from 'said box through the l' open side thereof', means for supplying successive layers of articles to be packed to the holder, and means for lowering the follower layers successively.

and holderstep by step for receiving the .in regular order articles to be packed, a pile forming mechanism at `the lower end of said chute, adapted to receive successive layers of said articles from said chute, arresting means at the entrance end of said pile forming mechanism, abutment means`adapted t0 engage the foremost row ofgarticles in the said pile forming mechanism, the weight of the articles in the chute adapted to pack 'the articles in said pile forming mechanism, means adapted to be operated to actuate the said arresting means to engage the lowermost row of larticles in the chute to arrest the flow of the remaining articles in the chute during the removal of a layer of said articles from the' path of the next'layer, and means cooperating with said means for actuating said arresting means for removing said abutment out of engagement with the foremost row of articles after the`arrestingmeans has been actuated, to loosen the contact of said layer of articles to permit removal thereof.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising a pileforming boX open at one v side, a vertically movable follower therein,

a holder resting on the follower engaging the bottom and ends of the pile forming in said boX, one of said ends corresponding to the open side of said boX, means for supplying successive layers of articles to be packed to the holder, means for lowering the fol- .l'owerrand holder step by step for receiving the layers successively, and means in said box adapted to permit engagement of one end of saidV holder to force the same from said box through the open side thereof.

'12. A machine ofthe character described, 4comprising a stationary pile-forming box, Aopen at one side, a vertically movable follower therein, va holder resting onthe said and removable from the boX lowerand holder step by step for receiving the layers successively. K

In testimony ,whereof we have signed Vour names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

" JACOB' H. LIENAU. vWlLl'JIAlll STEENKEN; Witnesses:

VooRHms S. BEST, Julius SCHWARZ. 

